Cake set to take over fellow UK distribution company Jetpack

UK-based kids and family production and distribution outfit Cake is in “advanced negotiations” to acquire Dominic Gardiner’s sales company Jetpack.

Dominic Gardiner

Cake said more news on the acquisition of the Jetpack brand, financial details of which are not yet known, would be shared “within the coming weeks.”

Jetpack was set up a decade ago by Gardiner, a former buyer at children’s networks such as Disney and Jetix, together with Paris-based Samka Productions and Canada’s Nerd Corps Entertainment.

Since then the company has grown rapidly and now represents more than 50 producers with a catalogue of shows including Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed, Moley and The Clangers.

Led by CEO and founder Gardiner, its sales team includes global distribution director Gillian Calvert Ridge, head of global sales Rebecca Lugo and sales manager Toby Jones.

Ed Galton

In 2022 the company expanded into the licensing and brand management space through the launch of an entertainment brand management service led by strategic advisor Stephen Toye Green.

Cake, meanwhile, distributes over 1,600 half-hours of animation and live-action content, working with producers including Rovio Entertainment, Fresh TV, Channel X, Kickstart, and Ragdoll Productions on the worldwide roll-out of their brands.

Founded in 2002, Cake is based in London, with offices in Berlin, LA and Toronto. It launched a production arm in 2021 to support its increased development and production activities on projects including Mush-Mush & The Mushables, Mama K’s Team 4 and Angry Birds: Summer Madness.

Cake CEO Ed Galton said: “Since Jetpack launched, they have always been a competitor who we have admired. Combined operations will deliver an even better kids and family distribution solution for this market.”